CN102187297A

CN102187297A - Handheld computing device

Info

Publication number: CN102187297A
Application number: CN2009801408636A
Authority: CN
Inventors: T·达伯夫; H·L·丽姆; K·耶茨; S·B·林奇
Original assignee: Apple Computer Inc
Current assignee: Apple Inc
Priority date: 2008-09-05
Filing date: 2009-07-16
Publication date: 2011-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 2029-07-16
Also published as: JP6193211B2; JP2012230678A; EP2329335B1; JP2012502355A; CA2735999C; WO2010027565A3; JP5677364B2; KR20110107412A; RU2011112981A; EP2775376A1; KR101088993B1; BRPI0918975B1; AU2009288594A1; MX2011002425A; CN104765421B; JP5039855B2; CN104765421A; KR20110051277A; EP2775376B1; KR101157384B1

Abstract

A minimum Z height handheld electronic device and methods of assembly is described. The electronic device includes a single seamless housing having a front opening and a cover disposed within the front opening and attached to the seamless housing without a bezel.

Description

Handheld computing device

Technical field

The present invention relates generally to portable computing equipment.More specifically, the present invention relates to the method for the casing and the assembling portable computing equipment of portable computing equipment.

Background technology

The outward appearance of mancarried electronic aid (comprising its design and weight) is important for the user of mancarried electronic aid, because outward appearance has been contributed overall impression to mancarried electronic aid to the user.Simultaneously, the assembling of mancarried electronic aid also is important for the user, because the assembling of durable will help to prolong the bulk life time of mancarried electronic aid and will increase its value for the user.

A design challenge that is associated with mancarried electronic aid is to be designed for the casing that holds various internal parts.This design challenge is generally caused by the design object of a plurality of conflicts, and the design object of a plurality of conflicts comprises the hope that makes casing more frivolous, makes casing firmer and make casing happy people's more attractive in appearance hope.Lighter casing, usually use thinner plastic construction and securing member still less, therefore often more soft and they are easier to bulging and bending in use, and firmer and firmer casing uses thicker plastic construction and more securing member usually, often thicker and carry bigger weight.Regrettably, the weight of increase can cause the user dissatisfied, and bending may damage inner body.

In addition, in most of mancarried electronic aids, casing be have screw down, with bolt, with the mechanical component of a plurality of parts rivet stickfast or that otherwise be fixed together at the discrete point place.For example, casing generally includes upper shell and lower house, and they are placed on over each other and are fixed together with screw.These technology generally make enclosure designs complicate and owing to having undesirable crack, seam, slit or fracture at the composition surface place and producing difficulty on the design for aesthetic along the securing member of case surface location.For example, produce during lower house in the use around the closing line of whole casing.Moreover, assembling also often is a process consuming time and bother.For example, the assembler must spend a certain amount of time and locate two parts and attached each securing member.In addition, assembling requires the assembler to have special instrument and some general technical ability usually.

Another challenge is the technology about the mounting structure in portable computing equipment.By convention, these structures have covered on one of them housing (going up or lower house) and with securing member such as screw, bolt, rivet etc. and have been attached to a described housing.That is to say that these structures are positioned between the layer on the housing in similar interlayer mode and are fixed to housing thereafter.This method is limited by aforesaid same disadvantages, i.e. assembling is consuming time and trouble.

Therefore, it is useful providing attractive in appearance, in light weight and durable mancarried electronic aid.The method that is provided for assembling this mancarried electronic aid also is useful.

Summary of the invention

In one embodiment, the present invention relates to hand-hold electronic equipments.Hand-hold electronic equipments comprises at least one single seamless shell, and it has open front and is arranged in the open front and is attached to the lid of the seamless shell of no frame.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to the seamless shell that forms by single metal plate.Seamless shell comprises top opening; Cooperation and collaborative top opening form the complete diapire and the sidewall of cavity, and wherein diapire has crooked basal surface, and sidewall is rounded to form crooked side surface and the undercutting in the cavity; Center on and limit the inward flange and the outward flange of the sidewall of top opening; Be attached to the installation bracket that is suitable for electronic package is fixed to the diapire of shell of diapire; And the opening at least one sidewall, its side cut degree of depth is at least greater than the side cut degree of depth that is provided separately by shell.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a kind of small form factor electronic equipment, comprise: at least one seamless shell, seamless shell has complete diapire and the sidewall that cooperates and work in coordination with the open front formation cavity with planar top surface, diapire has crooked basal surface, sidewall is rounded to form crooked side surface and the undercutting in the cavity, center on and limit the edge of the sidewall of open front, and be inserted in the seamless shell and be fixed to a plurality of electronic packages of the basal surface of shell by open front, the Z height tolerance that wherein minimizes a plurality of electronic packages make the top electronic package upper surface basically with the planar top surface coplane of shell.

Also disclosed and in the small form factor electronic equipment, made top glass unit method placed in the middle itself.The small form factor electronic equipment is formed by the seamless shell with open front and sidewall, open front has planar top surface, wherein the edge of sidewall around and limit open front and wherein glass unit comprise environmental sealing with wedge-like portion, wherein at least a portion of the wedge-like portion of environmental sealing extends beyond the inward flange of open front.This method can realize through the following steps: glass unit is inserted open front, and the inward flange by open front during inserting and the part that extends beyond the opening inward flange of environmental sealing are mutual, extension by inward flange and environmental sealing is mutual simultaneously, and the glass unit securing member cooperates with inlead equipment makes the glass unit autoregistration.

In another embodiment, the integrated speaker assembly that is suitable for the small form factor portable, hand-held device is described.Integrated speaker assembly comprises the piezoelectric speaker that is configured to produce at least sub-audible sound at least, have collaborative piezoelectric speaker with the acoustic seal in a plurality of acoustic seals gap of the desired locations in the sound guiding small form factor portable, hand-held device that will be produced by piezoelectric speaker be configured to prevent that sub-audible sound is leaked to the sound panel of the non-desired locations in the small form factor electronic equipment.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to minimize Z height installation bracket system with fixing operation parts in having the handheld computing device of seamless casing.Installation bracket comprises that a plurality of the sacrifices Z that have along the sacrificial section of the length direction of installation bracket configuration adjust protruding, wherein after installation bracket is attached to seamless casing, machining is removed the top of seamless casing and is sacrificed the sacrificial section that Z adjusts projection, get out a plurality of XY mating holes simultaneously, thereby wherein machining is to carry out the alignment tolerance that minimizes XY and Z direction in single machines configurations with boring.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a kind of runway method placed in the middle between the formation edge of the seamless casing that is used to support handheld computing device and inward flange that makes.This method is by a plurality of reference point on the formation edge of determining seamless casing with optical mode and use these a plurality of optical reference point cutting inward flanges to realize.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a kind of runway method placed in the middle between the formation edge of the seamless casing with single openend and inward flange that makes, wherein seamless casing support has the handheld computing device of the display part of locating in this single openend.This method is by the central point of determining the display part, determines the angle of inclination of display part and realize based on central point and angle of inclination cutting inward flange.

Description of drawings

To easily understand the present invention by detailed description below in conjunction with accompanying drawing, the wherein identical identical structural element of Reference numeral indication, and in the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1A-1B is the skeleton view of the handheld computing device of assembling form.

Fig. 1 C is the cross-sectional view of shell, has wherein given prominence to the character of undercutting geometric configuration.

Fig. 2 A-2E is the decomposition diagram of the electronic equipment of unassembled form.

Fig. 3 A-3B is the view of shell, wherein shows runway.

Fig. 4 A-4B diagram makes runway placed in the middle according to embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 5 A-5C is the low Z height integral speakers system that is applicable to the small form factor electronic equipment.

Fig. 6 A-6B illustrates the audio jack opening according to the embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 7 A-7C illustrates the assembling according to the G unit of the embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 8 A-8B illustrates the gas releasing structure according to the embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 9 illustrates the typical cross section view according to the shell of the embodiment of the invention, and wherein the part by folding shell forms the docking station opening.

Figure 10 A-10B illustrates the typical cross section view of shell, and wherein the docking station opening produces by punching press/shaping/machining process.

Figure 11 A-11C is shown in the process that forms short span opening in the shell.

Figure 12 A-12C is shown in the process that forms the long span opening in the shell.

Figure 13 illustrates the bent angle rigid member according to the embodiment of the invention.

Figure 14 is illustrated in before the machining and typical sacrifice Z alignment bumps afterwards.

Figure 15 illustrates the process flow diagram that be used for installation bracket be installed to the process of shell of detailed description according to the embodiment of the invention.

Figure 16 illustrates the process flow diagram of detailed description according to the process of embodiment of the invention rigging equipment.

Embodiment

Now detailed reference is carried out in preferred embodiment of the present invention.The example of preferred embodiment is illustration in the accompanying drawings.Although the present invention will describe in conjunction with preferred embodiment, will understand, be not intended to the present invention is limited to a preferred embodiment.On the contrary, be intended to be included in spirit and the replacement in the scope, modification and the equivalence that defines as by appended claims.

Described embodiment relates to happy people's attractive in appearance mancarried electronic aid.Mancarried electronic aid is formed by the seamless shell of bending and the happy people's attractive in appearance smooth top of polishing glassy layer.Because different with conventional mancarried electronic aid, the top glassy layer that described embodiment will polish is installed to seamless shell, therefore strengthened the consistance of mancarried electronic aid outward appearance under the situation of not using frame.Make peace and please people's the outward appearance except one, the seamless character of shell and do not have frame that some advantages also are provided.These advantages comprise needs less parts to assemble, and mancarried electronic aid can withstand the bump of drop event easilier, and for the polishing the glass top layer and the functional unit of any sensitivity wherein better protection is provided.

Seamless shell is formed by single metal plate (such as stainless steel).Shell has the geometric configuration of undercutting, is used for the linear dimension of the linear dimension of the opening of insertion functional unit between erecting stage less than shell itself therein.And the curvature of shell is asymmetric, and wherein the top of shell is formed have darker SPL (spline) (being higher curvature) and the bottom of shell and is formed and has more shallow SPL.This asymmetric in the sense of touch that helps the user to a certain degree, because it can better be joined with user's palmistry.And the metalline of shell alleviates the influence of electromagnetic interference (EMI) and Electrostatic Discharge simultaneously for built-in RF antenna provides good electrical grounding.

With come built-up member (promptly before the frame fastening in top-down mode, parts are inserted into shell) the assembling difference of conventional mancarried electronic aid, the geometric configuration of the undercutting of shell of the present invention requires all parts to fit in the less dimension of the window opening in the shell.And the assembling of mancarried electronic aid is to use the assembly method that is called blind assembling to realize in bottom-up mode.For any skew between the top part (being called runway) of the bottom-up blind assembling that helps mancarried electronic aid and top glassy layer that minimizes polishing and shell, various technology, device and the system of lamination (that is Z direction) tolerance have been proposed to minimize.For example, the part that is used to install the carriage of sub-component be soldered to shell and subsequently with shell topmost part carry out machining simultaneously and with identical configuration.In this way, be provided for installing the accurate Z benchmark of various parts.Should be noted that machining is preferable, because it can realize the machining tolerance of about 0.05mm magnitude, and conventional weldment position of related features is general big about the 0.2mm magnitude.

Others of the present invention relate to the ad hoc approach of the Z height that minimizes built-up member.In other words, for keeping attractive in appearance and aesthetic feeling, the Z height dimension of mancarried electronic aid is held in optimal user is provided experiences on the consistent value.Except for example relevant method of having discussed of installation bracket, this can also finish in several ways.The loudspeaker assembly that minimizes the Z height can use piezoelectric speaker to make in conjunction with horizontal sound panel.Gap in the horizontal sound panel has the effect that the sound that will be produced by piezoelectric speaker is directed to any desired position in the shell.For example, sound can be directed to the certain openings in the shell, rather than irrelevant sound radio.Such opening can comprise for example docking station opening and/or audio jack opening.By providing rear portion capacity (back volume) (posterior face of promptly using shell is as acoustic resonance device) to strengthen institute's sound sensed, can use the rear portion capacity acoustic seal of existing parts and suitably placement to realize.In order to ensure no matter how screen changes between different equipment with Z tolerance between the shell and also will keep rear portion capacity sealing integrity, places adapter near rear portion capacity acoustic seal.

The others of the Z height that maintenance of the present invention is available relate to the circuit organization that is associated with battery and display screen.Particularly, as described below, battery and display screen circuit coexist as same Y position, thereby reduce the overall Y component of circuit.In described embodiment, battery circuit can comprise the cell safety circuit and display circuit can comprise display controller (in certain embodiments, display is LCD LCD, and controller is a lcd controller).Conventional design regulation cell safety circuit is placed on the middle body and the lcd controller of battery and does not aim at (this might increase live width and stray capacitance, thereby reduces the available driving of lcd controller) with the distal edge of display.In addition, for the SPL with shell adapts and in order to reduce total Z value of product, with the lcd controller flexible circuit around the battery bending.

In addition, provide the gas releasing structure to come of the adhesion of reinforcing glass layer being used to install on the plastic frame of cover glass layer to plastic frame.Such structure can assign to form with the reservations that in position remove plastic frame by the hole of pre-sizing of for example punching press and position.In this way, the gas of any capture (such as air) can be overflowed, and more uniform adhesive distribution is provided, and produces firmer and more reliable combination the between glassy layer and the plastic frame thus.

These and other embodiment of the present invention discusses with reference to figure 1-16 below.Yet those skilled in the art will understand easily, and the detailed description that provides with reference to these accompanying drawings is in order to illustrate here, and scope of the present invention extends beyond these limited embodiment.

In whole discussion below, use term " CNC ".Abb. CNC represents computer numerical control and refers in particular to the computer control that reads computer instruction and drive lathe (a kind of motive power machine equipment is generally used for coming manufacture component by optionally removing material).Yet should be noted that any suitable machine process operation can be used for realizing described embodiment and be not that strictness is subject to the practice that these are associated with CNC.

Figure 1A-1B is the skeleton view that illustrates according to the various views of the mancarried electronic aid that is fully assembled 10 of the embodiment of the invention.The size of mancarried electronic aid 10 is set to be used for one-handed performance and is placed on than zonule (such as pocket), and promptly portable electronic equipment 10 can be hand-held pouch-type electronic equipment.As an example, mancarried electronic aid 10 can be corresponding to computing machine, media device, telecommunication apparatus etc.Mancarried electronic aid 10 can deal with data and is particularly handled medium such as audio frequency, video, image.Mancarried electronic aid 10 generally can be corresponding to music player, game machine, video player, PDA(Personal Digital Assistant) etc.About hand-held, mancarried electronic aid 10 can only be operated by (one or two) hand of user, does not promptly need reference surface (such as desktop).In some cases, the size of handheld device is set to be used for being placed on user's pocket.Be set to pouch-type by size, the user needn't directly hold equipment and therefore the user can be with the travelling (for example, the user can not be restricted because of the equipment that carries huge heaviness) that goes anywhere of this equipment.

Mancarried electronic aid 10 can change on a large scale.In certain embodiments, mancarried electronic aid 10 can be carried out simple function (for example being exclusively used in the equipment of broadcast and medium), and in other situation, electronic equipment can be carried out multiple function (for example broadcast/medium, reception/transmission call/text message/the Internet and/or execution web browse).In certain embodiments, mancarried electronic aid 10 can carry out radio communication (needing or need not to have the help of the backup system of radio function) and/or via the communication that thread path (for example using traditional electric wire) arranged.In certain embodiments, mancarried electronic aid 10 can be extremely portable (for example, than small-shape factor, thin, profile little (low profile), in light weight).In some cases, the big I of mancarried electronic aid 10 is set to use for hand-held.The size of mancarried electronic aid 10 even can be set to be used for one-handed performance and being placed on than zonule (in pocket), promptly portable electronic equipment 10 can be hand-held pouch-type electronic equipment.

As an example, mancarried electronic aid 10 can be corresponding to consumption electronic product, such as computing machine, media player, PDA(Personal Digital Assistant), telecommunication apparatus (phone), personal email or information receiving and transmitting equipment etc.In an example, electronic equipment can be corresponding to can be from by Cupertino, the electronic equipment iPod that the Apple Inc. of California buys ^TM, iPod Nano ^TM, iPod Shuffle ^TM, iPod ^TMTouch or iPhone ^TMIn any.

Mancarried electronic aid 10 comprises shell 100, and this shell 100 is configured to surround at least in part the parts of any suitable quantity that is associated with mancarried electronic aid 10.For example, shell can surround and the various electric components of internal support (comprise integrated circuit (IC) chip and other circuit) to provide calculating operation to equipment.Integrated circuit (IC) chip and other circuit can comprise microprocessor, storer, battery, circuit board, I/O, various I/O (I/O) support circuit etc.Although not shown in this figure, shell 100 can limit a cavity, can positioning element in cavity, and shell 100 can also physically be supported in the shell 100 or the mechanism of any suitable quantity in the opening that passes shell 100 surfaces.

Except above-mentioned these, shell also can limit the outward appearance of mancarried electronic aid 10 at least in part.That is to say that the shape of shell 100 and form can help the global shape of mancarried electronic aid 10 and the qualification of form, perhaps the profile of shell 100 can be embodied as the physical appearance of mancarried electronic aid 10.Can use any suitable shape.In certain embodiments, the size of shell 100 and shape can form the hand that is suitable for cosily cooperating the user.In certain embodiments, shape comprises the rear surface of slight bending and highly crooked side surface.Will be in the following shape of describing in more detail.

In one embodiment, shell 100 intactly forms in the mode that constitutes single full unit.By intactly forming, shell 100 has the seamless appearance that is different from conventional shell, forms the frame seam between two parts thereby conventional shell comprises the two parts that are buckled together.That is to say, different with conventional shell, thereby not comprising any crack, shell 100 do not make it be happy people firmer and attractive in appearance more.

Shell 100 can be formed by any amount of material, for example comprises plastics, metal, pottery etc.In one embodiment, shell 100 can be formed by stainless steel, so that attractive in appearance and attracting impression is provided, provides structural intergrity also to provide support for all sub-components of installing within it simultaneously.When using metal, shell 100 can use the removable core metal of the known routine of those skilled in the art (the collapsible core metal forming) technology that is shaped to form.

Mancarried electronic aid 10 also can comprise lid 106, and lid 106 comprises flat outer surface.Outside surface for example can flush with the edge of the shell wall that centers on the lid edge.Lid 106 cooperates with shell 100 to surround mancarried electronic aid 10.Although lid can come the opposite shell location with multiple mode, in illustrative embodiment, lid 106 is arranged in interior and close this mouth of mouth of the cavity of shell 100.That is to say that lid 106 adapts to opening 108.In alternative embodiment, lid 106 can be opaque and can comprise the touch-sensing mechanism that forms touch pad.Runway 122 is defined as the top part of shell 100, and it is round the top glassy layer 106 of polishing.For the aesthstic impression of the expectation that keeps mancarried electronic aid 10, wish to minimize any skew between shell 100 and the top glassy layer 106 that polishes and make runway 122 placed in the middle.

Lid 106 can be configured to limit/user interface of loading electronic equipment 10.Lid 106 for example can be provided for viewing areas to user's display graphics user interface (GUI) and out of Memory (for example text, object, figure) for display screen 104.Display screen 104 can be an assembling and a part that is included in the display unit (not shown) in the shell 100.Display unit for example can inside be attached to metal framework (for example 302).Lid also can provide the user can click load button 114 (initial (home) button), and this button 114 can be used for providing the user incoming event for mancarried electronic aid 10.Such user's incoming event can be used for any amount of purpose, selects such as replacement mancarried electronic aid 10, between each display screen that presents on the display screen 104 etc.In one embodiment, lid 106 is protection top layers of transparent or semitransparent material (limpid), makes it possible to see through lid 106 and sees display screen 104.That is to say that lid 106 is as the window (promptly covering the transparent cover body on the display screen) of display screen 104.In a certain embodiments, lid is formed by glass (for example lid glass), is formed by press polished glass more specifically.Yet should understand, can use other transparent material, such as limpid plastics.

In one embodiment, viewing areas can be a touch-sensitive, is used to receive one or more touches inputs that help is controlled at the various aspects of displaying contents on the display screen.In some cases, can receive one or more inputs (for example multiple point touching) simultaneously.In these embodiments, touch-sensing layer (not shown) can be positioned under the lid glass 106.The touch-sensing layer for example can be arranged between lid 106 and the display screen 104.In some cases, the touch-sensing layer puts on display screen 104, and the touch-sensing layer puts on lid glass 106 in other situation.The touch-sensing layer for example can be attached to the inside surface (printing, deposition, lamination or otherwise combine with it) of lid glass 106.The touch-sensing layer generally comprises and be configured to a plurality of sensors of activating when the upper surface of finger touch lid glass 106.In the simplest situation, when finger process sensor, just produce electric signal.Number of signals in the preset time frame can be indicated position, direction, speed and the acceleration of finger on the touch-sensitive part, and promptly signal is many more, and it is many more that the user moves its finger.In most of situations, signal is monitored that by electrical interface this electrical interface becomes position, direction, speed and acceleration information with quantity, combination and the frequency inverted of signal.This information can be used for carrying out expectation control function for display screen 104 by mancarried electronic aid 10 subsequently.

Mancarried electronic aid 10 also can comprise one or more switches, and wherein switch comprises power switch, volume control switch, user input device etc.Power switch 110 can be configured to open or close mancarried electronic aid 10, and volume switch 112 is configured to regulate the audio volume level that mancarried electronic aid 10 produces.Mancarried electronic aid 10 also can comprise one or more connectors, and the mancarried electronic aid 10 that is used to come and go transmits data and/or electric power.Mancarried electronic aid 10 can comprise audio jack 116 and data/power connector 118.Audio jack 116 allows audio-frequency information to export from mancarried electronic aid 10 by electric wire connecting junction.Connector 118 allows to send data and receive data from main process equipment to the main process equipment such as multi-purpose computer (for example desk-top computer, pocket computer).Connector 118 can be used for uploading or downloading audio frequency, video and other view data and operating system, application etc. from it to mancarried electronic aid 10.For example, connector 118 can be used for song and playlist, audiobook, photo etc. are downloaded in the storing mechanism (storer) of mancarried electronic aid 10.Connector 118 also allows electric energy is sent to mancarried electronic aid 10.

Connector 118 can be admitted outside corresponding connector (not shown), and the latter can insert main process equipment (and/or power supply) so that be implemented in communicate by letter (for example data/electric energy transmits) between mancarried electronic aid 10 and the main process equipment.Connector can change on a large scale.In one embodiment, connector is the peripheral bus connector, such as USB or FIREWIRE (live wire) connector.The connector of these types comprises power supply and data function, thereby when mancarried electronic aid 10 is connected to main process equipment, allows electric energy transmitting and data communication to take place between mancarried electronic aid 10 and main process equipment.In some cases, main process equipment can provide electric energy for medium mancarried electronic aid 10, the battery that the electric energy that is provided can be used for operating mancarried electronic aid 10 and/or charges in operation and comprise in it.In a certain embodiments, connector is 30 pin connectors, and is as at Cupertino, employed in many products that the Apple Inc. of CA makes.Audio jack 116 can be admitted audio interface terminal (not shown), can provide sound signal to the external audio display device thus, such as earphone, loudspeaker etc.

Although equipment can connect by various wired connections, should understand this is not restriction.In one embodiment, mancarried electronic aid 10 also comprises the mechanism that is used for radio communication.For example, as shown in the figure, mancarried electronic aid 10 can comprise antenna (being antenna 222).Antenna can be arranged in the inside of shell 100.Radio communication can be based on many different wireless protocols, for example comprise bluetooth, RF, 802.11 or the like.For at shell be metal and thereby the embodiment of mancarried electronic aid 10 of conduction in minimize any adverse effect to radio communication, the part of shell 100 can use the saturating radio cap (radio transparent cap) 120 that is formed by non-conducting material (such as plastics) to replace.

Fig. 1 C shows the cross-sectional view of the shell 100 of the character of giving prominence to the undercutting geometric configuration.Although generally speaking the interior shape of cross section of shell 100 can be identical or different with the external cross section shape of shell 100, the interior shape of shell 100 is consistent with the outer shape of shell 100 basically in the present embodiment.Can form the shell 100 with undercutting geometric configuration, this undercutting geometric configuration has the curvature (for example shape matches) that is easier to admit user's hand.Particularly, the inwall of shell 100 is consistent with the outer wall shape of shell 100 basically.More clearly, sidewall 121 (interior and outer both) is rounded and curve inwardly to form recessed undercut area 123 at place, sidewall 121 tops near cut edge 128.About undercutting, be meant sidewall 121 towards shell 100 inner counter to curving inwardly.In this way, window opening 108 has littler than shell 100 main bodys at least X dimension and Y dimension.In an example, shell 100 can have approximately (x, y) _Shell=(61.8mm, dimension 111mm), and opening 108 can have approximately (x, y) _Opening=(58.3mm, dimension 107.5mm).

Fig. 2 A-2E illustrates the various decomposition diagrams of the mancarried electronic aid 10 of unassembled form.Mancarried electronic aid 10 is included in the shell 100 of attached a plurality of operations in shown in Fig. 2 A its and/or structure member.Shell 100 can adopt the form of seamless casing.The seamless character of shell 100 provide aesthstic impression for mancarried electronic aid 10 and the distortion that causes for bump and internal part because of drop event may damage the resistibility that provides extra.In embodiment as herein described, shell 100 is formed and is had the thickness of about 0.5mm by stainless steel.Yet should be noted that this configuration only is representational in essence and constraint the present invention is not provided the restriction of final scope.

Shell 100 extends along vertical (Y) axle with height Z and level (X) axle.Shell 100 can have all size.For example, shell 100 can have the height (Z) of about 8.5mm, the X dimension of about 61.8mm and the Y dimension of about 111mm.Shell 100 comprises cavity 124, and its size and dimension are set to the internal part of receivability mancarried electronic aid 10.Internal part is by 108 assemblings of window opening.The undercutting geometric configuration regulation of shell 100, the linear dimension of the window opening 108 that functional unit therefrom inserts between erecting stage is less than the linear dimension of shell 100 housings.For example, window opening 108 can have the X dimension of about 58.3mm and the Y dimension of about 107.5mm.

An aspect of expectation impression is in the design symmetry of mancarried electronic aid 10 and conformal outward appearance.A symmetric aspect of mancarried electronic aid 10 relates to runway 122.Runway 122 is the metal tapes that center on lid 106 on the equipment front.The width of runway 122 is by outer track profile and inner track contour limit.Because shell 100 is by the sheet metal manufacturing, the outer track profile is shaped by sheetmetal and realizes, and the inner track profile is realized by machining, and the tolerance that wherein is shaped is much larger than the machining tolerance.In described embodiment, the outer track profile is consistent with formation edge 126, and the inner track profile is consistent with the cut edge 128 of shell 100, as shown in FIG. 3.Fig. 3 shows the representational cross-sectional view and the top view of mancarried electronic aid 10, has wherein highlighted runway 122 and the relation that forms edge 126 and cut edge 128.

In order to keep the desired appearance of mancarried electronic aid 10, suitably making runway 122 is desirable between two parties.Yet this depends between two parties in the overall aesthetic of mancarried electronic aid 10 designs what is considered as key factor, can be finished by multiple mode.In any case, for example use the CCD camera to carry out a series of optical measurement to measure the outer track profile after cutting carrying out rough lumber.Measure in case obtain CCD, then can use in the several different methods any to make runway 122 placed in the middle.Yet, depend on the method that is adopted, can produce different in a way results.For example, shown in Fig. 4 A, use outer track profile (promptly forming edge 126) to make runway 122 will produce consistent runway width between two parties, yet the gap 131 from the shell to glass will be so not consistent.On the other hand, also can make runway 122 placed in the middle, but use the CCD measurement to find out the center (x that is used to cut interior profile by the inner track contour shape that forms being cut in cut edge 128 according to 3D CAD ₀, y ₀) and any anglec of rotation

, shown in Fig. 4 B.This specific method placed in the middle will provide so not consistent runway width, but provide the more consistent gap from the shell to glass 130.

The functional unit of Fig. 2 B-2E illustration mancarried electronic aid 10.In described embodiment, organize the parts of mancarried electronic aid 10 with layer.Relation between the relation of each layer inner part and tissue and each layer can be used to promote the assembling and the Z height tolerance optimization of mancarried electronic aid 10.By minimizing the Z height tolerance, make mancarried electronic aid 10 with very compact, durable, the attractive in appearance happy people of relatively low cost and meet human engineering ground and make.For example, the fact of assembling mancarried electronic aid 10 has reduced manufacturing and assembly cost under the situation that does not need frame.These layers can comprise first (main electronics) layer, 200, second (metal framework or M-framework) layer the 300 and the 3rd (glass or G unit) layer 400, each layer that is described in more detail below them.

Fig. 2 B illustrates the detailed view of the ground floor 200 (hereinafter referred to as the PCB layer 200) according to the embodiment of the invention.

PCB layer 200 comprises first assembly 204 and second assembly 206, and they physically and functionally are connected by flexible circuit 202.First assembly 204 comprises printed circuit board (PCB) (PCB) 205, attached flexible circuit 202 on this printed circuit board (PCB) 205.Printed circuit board (PCB) 205 is configured to hold a plurality of parts, comprises for example processor, storer or the like.Printed circuit board (PCB) 205 also is configured to hold the RF screen that is arranged on the various parts.The RF screen is formed and is configured to cover and center on these parts by metal.First assembly also comprises speaker system, and this speaker system is not an independent discrete part but integrated so that the suitable system of output sound with other parts.In its core, speaker system comprises piezoelectric speaker 210, acoustic seal 212 and sound panel 502.Piezoelectric speaker 210 is attached to the RF screen, and acoustic seal 212 closing gaps are so that form acoustical volume between RF screen and shell.This embodiment will describe in Fig. 5 A-5C in more detail.Printed circuit board (PCB) 205 also is configured to hold connector 118 and audio jack assembly 116.In described embodiment, audio jack 116 is fitted in the audio jack opening 117 and accomplishes the interface of external circuit (such as wear-type or earphone) by the connector usefulness of lead or other type.For audio jack 116 correctly is fitted in the audio jack opening 117, audio jack opening 117 must have with the SPL of shell 100 and with the corresponding to shape of the shape of audio jack 116, this describes in Fig. 6 A-6B in more detail.

PCB layer 200 can be fitted in the cavity 124 of shell 100 and the inwall that uses the securing member (such as

screw

208a and 208b) that is directly connected to shell 100 to be fixed to shell 100 (should be noted that, screw 208b also helps the RF antenna ground, discusses in more detail below).It should be noted that, before assembling, use power knob plate 228 that power knob 110 is attached to shell, and use volume button plate 230 that volume button 112 is attached to shell 110, wherein power knob plate 228 and volume button plate 230 are electrically connected mutually by flexible circuit 232.

Near one of problem relevant with active RF antenna module is set a plurality of active circuits is that generation can cause de-tuned (detune) or otherwise influence the electromagnetic interference (EMI) of the performance of RF antenna 222 unfriendly.For example, the long relatively conductor that exists in flexible circuit 202 may become the EMI source of the performance that influences RF antenna 222 nocuously.For reduce in fact or even eliminate this EMI source, can wish RF ground connection PCB 200.Therefore, for good RF ground connection is provided, remove towards the part 226 of the insulation course of the flexible circuit 202 of shell 100 inside surfaces so that expose wherein conductive layer.The part 226 of the flexible circuit 202 that is removed usually is those relatively large and continuous zones, thereby can provide good RF ground connection most possibly when placing with the Metal Contact of shell 100.In described embodiment, after the part 226 of flexible circuit 202 had removed, the conductive material that will expose was pressed into downwards on the shell 100.Between flexible circuit 202 and shell 100, place pressure sensitive conductive adhesive (PSCA), so that necessary mechanicalness and electric property conductive bond to be provided.Except good RF ground connection is provided, flexible circuit 202 reduces total Z profile of PCB 200 for the compliance of the inside surface of shell 100.

Fig. 2 C-2D illustrates according to the embodiment of the invention and correspondingly is called layer 300 the knocked-down top view of metal (M) frame assembly 300 and the backplan that has assembled hereinafter.At first forward Fig. 2 C to, M-frame assembly 300 can comprise M-framework 302, be attached to the battery 304 and the display circuit 306 that comprises display 104 of M-framework 302 by contact adhesive (PSA).In described embodiment, the Z requirement for height of M-framework 300 can reduce by the structure that use is called semi-shear 310.Semi-shear 310 can form in those locational parts of the screw hole in M-framework 300 by removing M-framework 302, is used to hold screw 312a and the 312b that M-framework 302 is attached to shell 100.In described embodiment, from M-framework 302, remove sufficient amount of material, make the top of each screw 312a and 312b flush with the top surface 314 of M-framework 302 basically.As described in greater detail, each semi-shear 310 is aimed at the Z altitude datum projection that is described in more detail below, thereby further minimizes the Z requirement for height of mancarried electronic aid 10.And, provide display unit mating holes 316 to admit alignment pins (not shown) on the display unit 306, they provide x to shell 100 by the mating holes among installation bracket 136a and the 136b 140, and y aims at.

Except minimizing the Z requirement for height, can also shown in Fig. 2 D, reduce total Y component of battery circuit and display circuit, wherein Fig. 2 D illustrates the tissue of the circuit that is associated with battery 304 and display circuit 306.Particularly, battery circuit 318 coexists as identical Y position with display circuit 320, thereby reduces total Y component of circuit.In described embodiment, battery circuit 318 can adopt the form of cell safety circuit 318, and display circuit can comprise lcd controller 320.Conventional design regulation cell safety circuit 318 is placed on the middle body of battery 304 and the distal edge that lcd controller 320 should not aimed at display circuit 306 (because may increase live width and stray capacitance like this, thereby reducing the available driving of lcd controller).Yet by revising both designs of cell safety circuit 318 and lcd controller 320, these two circuit can be placed on identical Y position.In this way, can reduce total Y component that these two circuit take jointly.In addition, for consistent with the SPL of shell 100 and in order to reduce total Z of mancarried electronic aid 10, lcd controller flexible circuit 322 can and be placed under the battery 304 around battery 304, so that Display connector 324 and battery connector 326 match shown in Fig. 2 D like that.

Mancarried electronic aid 10 comprises glass or G unit 400, shown in Fig. 2 E.G unit 400 comprises lid glass 106.G unit 400 also comprises lid glass PSA 404, is used for bonding lid glass 106 and plastic frame 406.Environmental sealing 408 can be used to prevent that dust or other undesired environmental contaminants from entering mancarried electronic aid 10 after assembling.Between erecting stage, G unit 400 can be placed in the window 108 of shell 100 and be positioned on the top of M-frame assembly 300, shown in Fig. 7 A-7C.M framework 302 itself is aimed at during insertion in G unit 400, and uses M-framework inlead 324 to be fixed to M framework 302.G unit 400 comprises by plastic frame 406 and environment or decorates the sealing 408 dijection molded structures that form, wherein environment or decorate sealing 408 by can be used to protect mancarried electronic aid 10 be not subjected to dust with or for example thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) of moisture effects, rubber etc. make.As described below, environmental sealing 408 helps G unit 400 autoregistration window 108 openings between erecting stage with respect to the shape of shell 100.In the assembling process shown in Fig. 7 A, G unit 400 is inserted in the window opening 108 by making plastic frame 406 contact M-framework inleads 324.In described embodiment, environmental sealing 408 and M-framework inlead 324 all have corresponding wedge-type shape and are used to make 400 autoregistrations of G unit.For example, in Fig. 7 B, when inserting G unit 400 in the window opening 108, plastic frame 406 runs into the wedge-type shape of M-framework inlead 324.M-framework inlead 324 possesses to be aimed at and fixing 400 two kinds of effects in G unit, till the wedge-shaped edge of the environmental sealing shown in Fig. 7 C 408 runs in the inward flange of shell 100 or the cut edge 128.The part 410 of environmental sealing 408 extends beyond cut edge 128.In described embodiment, part 410 has wedge-shaped edge, and this wedge-shaped edge makes G unit 400 from being centered at window opening 108 (shown in Fig. 7 C) till G unit 400 is caught by M-framework inlead 324.

Between erecting stage, when when exert pressure in G unit 400, the gas of capture aggregates into bubble, consequently minimizes the bonded area between contact adhesive (PSA) and the glass 106.The capture of gas is partly owing to the following fact: promptly owing to build-up tolerance, PSA can contact the sealing 402 (seeing Fig. 8 A) in isolated gas effusion path.Therefore, advantageously on plastic frame 406, provide gas releasing structure or mounting technology, thereby 106 pairs of plastic frame 406 of reinforcing glass layer is bonding.The gas release tech can be included in the predetermined portions that the appropriate location removes plastic frame 406, described remove the hole by pre-sizing of for example punching press and position or remove small amount of PS A by bent angle from mancarried electronic aid 10 allow the gas that captures more easily overflow to realize, shown in Fig. 8 B.In this way, can realize adhesive distribution more equably, to produce firmer and more reliable combination the between glassy layer 106 and the plastic frame 406.

Fig. 5 A illustrates loudspeaker assembly 500 integrated or that minimize the Z height, and it is the specific embodiment of the integrated speaker assembly shown in Fig. 2 B.The loudspeaker assembly 500 that minimizes the Z height comprises the piezoelectric speaker 210 that combines with acoustic seal 212 and level (Y) sound panel 502 at least.Screen gap 504 in the acoustic seal has the effect that the sound that will be produced by piezoelectric speaker 210 is directed to any desired position in the shell 100.For example, sound can be directed to the certain openings in the shell 100, rather than irrelevant sound radio.Such opening can comprise for example docking station opening 119 and/or audio jack opening 117.Horizontal sound panel 502 guarantees not have basically sound to be leaked to the non-expectation part of shell 100, such as the gap that is associated with volume button 112, power knob 110 or antenna cap 120.In addition, shown in Fig. 5 B, rear portion capacity sealing 506 can form sound chamber 508 with shell 100 cooperations, is also referred to as rear volume.In this way,, reduced to be used to produce the Z requirement for height of rear volume 508, and the rear section of shell 100 can be as being set to strengthen the resonator that audio user is experienced by using existing parts.Because rear volume 508 is to use existing parts (being shell 100 and sound panel 502) to produce, therefore highly there is not adverse effect in the total Z for mancarried electronic aid 10.

Fig. 5 C illustrates crushed zone 510, and it provides the integrality of adjusting and guaranteeing rear portion capacity 508 for the variation of Z tolerance.Between the erecting stage of mancarried electronic aid 10, can on PCB 200, exert pressure, this pressure has the effect with crushed zone 510 compressions or crushing.In this way, can under the situation of the integrality of not damaging rear portion capacity 508, be in harmonious proportion the Z height change of each parts of PCB 200.Should be noted that crushed zone 510 can adopt any of multiple shape and size, and can form by any resilient material that can between shell 100 and rear portion capacity sealing 506, form sealing.

As shown in Figure 6A, one of problem relevant with shell 100 asymmetric geometric configuratioies be, along with the undercutting of audio jack opening 117 is cut surface (point " A ") and moved on the positive Z direction, the edge of cutting is because the higher curvature of shell 100 and mobile on negative Y direction.In other words, a less variation on the positive Z direction can cause a bigger variation on the negative Y direction.Because audio jack 116 is fixing on the Z direction, therefore the size of audio jack opening 117 can not be too near from the top of shell 100, too closely can cause the danger of lid glass 106, because the situation too far away that audio jack opening 117 is formed into shell 100 may occur than shallow portion.In any case the part that has complete circle in the more shallow geometric configuration of shell 100 can cause very sharp-pointed edge (as shown in Figure 6A), they machinings must be fallen.Yet conventional machining process can make shell 100 become unacceptably thin in this zone, has the danger that damages in crash.Therefore, for the circle of holding audio jack 116, the SPL of shell 100, and reduce audio jack cut edge (around the material of audio jack structure itself) as few as possible, the asymmetric audio jack opening 117 of formation shown in Fig. 6 B, it has circular portion 602 and non-circular portion 604, thereby provides asymmetric shape for audio jack opening 117.In this way, audio jack opening 117 provides audio jack 116, and the audio jack opening keeps placed in the middle and circular outward appearance, particularly from.Should be noted that to have been found that after forming audio jack opening 117 in this way, can use in the deburring field, to be considered as unconventional material and to carry out the deburring process that is used to repair.Such material can comprise for example bamboo wooden stick, wooden chopsticks or the like.

In order to hold various interface (for example, docking station, audio jack, volume, power supply), must in shell 100, produce the opening of all size.Exist several different methods to can be used for producing these openings and opening is cut edge seem thicker than the thickness (0.5mm) of the sheet metal that is used to produce shell 100.A kind of method depends on the sheet metal that extracts or be folded to form shell 100, as shown in Figure 9.In any case, in shell 100, producing these openings and can cause long and thin metallic interconnect (web), they can be out of shape because of the bump of for example drop event.In order to reinforce these zones, any that can use multiple different technologies adds additional material layer (being called sub-material) to father's material, and father's material is the stainless steel with about 0.5mm thickness in this case.In certain embodiments, sub-material can be engaged to father's material by melting welding, soft soldering, brazing or gummed.In case sub-material is bonded to father's material, just carries out single-stage cutting (for example machining or cut or punching press) so that produce actual hole geometry.

Figure 10 A-10B illustrates the typical section view of shell 100 in docking station opening 119 zones.Yet because thickness (about 0.5mm), the geometric configuration (being dark SPL) that forms the material (stainless steel) and the shell 100 of described shell is difficult to obtain profoundly cutting of expectation in large-scale manufacturing environment.10A with the aid of pictures particularly because the geometric configuration of shell 100, uses conventional punching operation to produce unacceptable asymmetrical cutting between the shallow SPL that docking station opening 119 can cause the steep SPL at shell 100 tops and bottom.Therefore shown in Figure 10 A, the metal support rack 1002 with thickness (about in this embodiment 0.5mm) of approximate shell 100 can use soft soldering or brazing material or gummed to be attached to the inwall of shell 100.By using soft soldering or brazing material or glue, support rack 1002 can be attached to shell 100 securely, and good decoration effect is provided, because soft soldering or brazing material have been desalinated the gap between shell 100 and the support rack 1002.Figure 10 B illustrates the result of the punching operation that is used to form docking station opening 119.By using support rack 1002, in the zone with docking station opening 119 (thus, perhaps any opening in shell 100) of shell 100, form double-walled.In described embodiment, because any gap between support rack 1002 and the shell 100 fills by soft soldering or brazing, can both keep the decorative appearance expected, keep desired results integrality and intensity again.Should be noted that in order to provide optimal strength, locate corresponding support rack and make and to infer the approximate centre position that the hole is positioned in support rack to the hole with large span (volume button opening).

Figure 11 A-11C diagram is used to form the process of docking station opening.Figure 11 A illustration support rack 1002 on shell 100 with respect to the placement of plan docking station opening 119.Support rack 1002 can be fusion welded to shell 100.Figure 11 B support rack shown in the side view 1002 and plan docking station opening and put.In this case, the whole zone of support rack 1002 covering plan docking station openings is supported so that provide maximum behind CNC.Therefore, Figure 11 C is behind the punching operation and CNC at docking station opening 119 shown in the side view, and support rack 1002 has top 1102 and bottom 1104.Should be noted that in order ornamentally to hide the gap between support rack and the shell 100 soft soldering or brazing material can be used for being filled in any gap behind the CNC.

Have in the situation of long span (such as the volume control knob) at opening, Figure 12 A-12C diagram is used to form the process of long span opening (such as the volume button opening).Figure 12 A illustration support rack 1202 on shell 100 with respect to the placement of plan volume button opening.Should be noted that in this case support rack 1202 only extends to approximate centre position on the y direction, because the main region that need support is the strip 1204 on described volume control knob.Strip 1204 is out of shape during crash easily.Figure 12 B illustrates the juxtaposed side view of the plan position of support rack 1202, shell 100 and volume control knob.Figure 12 C is illustrated in the situation after the cut of volume control knob, is illustrated as the last support rack that any long span opening (such as volume button) in the shell 100 provides necessary support.

Yet should be noted that top process is based on such as stainless material and the geometric configuration (being that they have precipitous SPL) that is unfavorable for providing symmetry cutting or correct depth of cut in punching press type operation.Yet imagination is used and is different from the symmetry that stainless material such as aluminium can provide necessity.In these cases, can use monolithic punching press and CNC.The thickness that shall also be noted that support rack can change but to find to have the thickness work of approximate shell 100 good.

In order to prevent to disturb RF antenna 222, remove sheathing material to form antenna hole 127 from shell 100.Form antenna hole 127 and use electrically non-conductive material such as plastics to replace by using laser to remove the external conductive casing material to form antenna cap 120.In this way, the interference that causes because of the existence at RF antenna 222 conductive material such as metal the most nearby is eliminated.Yet this excision can make the bent angle part 128 of shell 100 become weak, reaches it and becomes and be easy to because of crash distortion or the degree damaged.Therefore, by the sidewall of the bent angle part 128 of stiffened shell 100 as illustrated in fig. 13, bent angle rigid member 130 can be used for providing structural support for the bent angle part 128 of shell 100.With 130 melting welding of bent angle rigid member or otherwise be attached to shell 100.Yet, compare with other support rack (such as those carriages that are used for volume button and docking station), bent angle rigid member 130 is used for two purposes, and the one, for the bent angle that is removed material 128 of shell 100 provides additional structural intergrity, another is the ground connection as RF antenna 222.In described embodiment, antenna ground 132 is connected to RF antenna 222 by antenna screw 208b.In order to provide RF antenna 222 to be connected with good electrical between the bent angle rigid member 130, antenna ground 132 must keep complete basically to contact so that not only mechanically admitted antenna screw 208b but also can provide with the good electrical of bent angle rigid member 130 (and shell 100).

Because the size and the position of antenna hole 127 use laser to remove necessary quantity of material to form antenna hole 127 from shell 100.Yet antenna ground 132 extends near the zone of wanting the material of laser ablation.Because it is complete relatively that antenna ground 132 must keep; be not subjected to the influence of any waste material of producing when laser removal of material forms antenna hole 127 with screen protection antenna ground 132, screen is for example formed by foam or any other protective material that can easily remove after forming antenna hole 127.

Turn back to Fig. 2 A, it illustrates the detailed view of shell 100.As directed, shell 100 comprises a plurality of attached steady arms, is used for sub-component is attached to shell 100.Such attachment features can comprise for example PCB sub-component fixed

locator

134a and 134b and 134c, and they can be used for using respectively the securing member such as screw 310b and screw 208a that PCB assembly 200 is attached to shell 100.Should be noted that screw 310b uses steady arm 134a and 134b that M-frame assembly 300 and PCB 200 are attached to shell 100, is different from screw 310a M-frame assembly 300 directly is attached to installation bracket 136a and 136b.As mentioned above, RF ground connection 132 both had been used for PCB 200 is fixed to shell 100, was used to RF antenna 222 that ground plane is provided again.

Installation bracket 136a and 136b are used for M-framework sub-component 300 is fixed to shell 100.Yet the conventional method that installation bracket is attached to shell 100 is used the high temperature attach process, such as laser fusion welding, and this meeting and often cause the cosmetic damage of shell 100 outside surfaces.This cosmetic damage requires expensive and rectification consuming time, and such as polishing, this can increase assembling mancarried electronic aid 10 required cost and time.Therefore, for fear of producing cosmetic damage, only use the low temperature attach process that installation bracket 136a and 136b are attached to shell 100.In order to eliminate the cosmetic damage that Yin Gaowen attach process (such as laser fusion welding) causes, use the low temperature welding process installation bracket 136a and 136b to be placed in the appropriate location on the inside surface of shell 100.In case the location uses low temperature soft soldering technology installation bracket 136a and 136b to be fixedly attached to the inside surface of shell 100.By using low temperature melting welding and soft soldering technology, damage and be eliminated because of using conventional method (such as high-temperature technology) that installation bracket 136a and 136b are attached to any (decorating or other) to shell 100 outside surfaces that shell 100 causes.Therefore, compare, use the low temperature attach process to eliminate to carry out the polishing on the outside surface of shell 100 or the necessity of other rectification in attached back with the conventional method of using the high temperature attach process.In this way, the aesthstic impression that has kept mancarried electronic aid 10.In this way, installation bracket 136a and 136b are for admitting and supporting certain part of internal part that reference surface is provided.In addition, installation bracket 136a and 136b provide Z benchmark projection 138, and the latter minimizes the Z height or the lamination tolerance of the internal part that has assembled, following discussing in more detail.

Between the erecting stage of mancarried electronic aid 10,400 1 folded ground of PCB 200, M-frame assembly 300 and G unit are placed, in being called the process of blind assembly manipulation, each layer must with minimum Z height tolerance with each other layer aim at.As known in the art, whenever needing a plurality of differences, manufacturing operation disposes, and each independently disposes just has the tolerance that is associated, and each tolerance that is associated is added on all other tolerances.By minimizing the configuration quantity in the manufacturing operation, total Z height tolerance of operation can be remained minimum.Therefore, in order in mancarried electronic aid 10 assemblings, to minimize the Z height tolerance, design multiple novel method.For example, in order to minimize the Z height tolerance when M-frame assembly 300 is attached to shell 100, installation bracket 136a and 136b comprise above-mentioned Z benchmark projection 138 (wherein two Z benchmark projectioies lay respectively at a side of M-framework screw hole 146).The machining top surface 140 and the display unit mating holes 142 that should be noted that Z benchmark projection 138, shell 100 are to use single configuration by (as shown in figure 14) of machining simultaneously.In this way, can realize Z height tolerance (the Z height tolerance of approximate 0.2mm that has the standard soft soldering method of a plurality of configurations with use is compared) with respect to the approximate 0.05mm of the top surface 140 of shell 100.

Figure 15 illustrates the process flow diagram that be used for installation bracket be installed to the process 1500 of shell of detailed description according to the embodiment of the invention.Process 1500 starts from 1502 by installation bracket is provided, and installation bracket has the sacrifice Z adjustment projection of location thereon.In described embodiment, Z adjusts projection and is set to have the part that can remove by machining during follow-up machining process, and in this process, also the top of shell is removed in machining.1504, use low-yield attach process (such as low-yield melting welding) in the enclosure with the installation bracket location.Follow 1506 the carriage that the original place soft soldering is positioned.In single configuration, carry out following operation, wherein remove the top of shell, remove the sacrificial section that Z adjusts projection 1510, and in carriage, get out display unit x, the y mating holes 1512 in 1508 machinings.

Figure 16 illustrates the process flow diagram of detailed description according to the process 1600 of embodiment of the invention assembling mancarried electronic aid 10.At first, 1602, receive preassembled shell.In described embodiment, shell has had all openings that suitably form, support rack and additional thereon attached steady arm.1604, the PCB assembly is placed in the cavity pocket of outer cover.Because window aperture efficiency housing main body is little, so the insertion of PCB assembly is inserted remainder subsequently and is finished by inserting first or second portion.For example, when inserting the PCB assembly,, then docking station and audio jack are inserted in the shell their respective openings if insert the first of PCB assembly earlier.In case correctly docking station and audio jack are fixed, then can insert the second portion of PCB assembly, second portion comprises the RF antenna module in the case.In case the PCB assembly is in place, then can be at the 1606 a part of conductive layers that expose the flexible circuit part of PCB assembly.Should be noted that before PCB is inserted shell, whenever to carry out this step.By exposing a part of conductive layer of flexible circuit part, can set up the RF ground plane by shell.In case exposed the conductive layer of flexible circuit part, then the PCB assembly be fixed to shell 1608.In described embodiment, can use fixedly PCB assembly of screw, utilize the attached steady arm of PCB directly first's (comprising docking station and audio jack) of PCB assembly to be attached to shell.In case PCB is fixed to shell, then the conductive layer that exposes of flexible circuit conformally is pressed into the inside surface of shell 1610.In described embodiment, can use pressure sensitive conductive adhesive that exposed portions serve is adhered to shell.Thereby except providing good electric contact to provide the good RF ground connection, by flexible circuit being pressed into the inside surface of shell, flexible circuit is mechanically secured to shell and the shared amount of space of flexible circuit and also is accompanied by and reduces.

In case PCB is in place and fixing, receive preassembled M-framework and battery 1612.Pre-assembled refers to that battery is attached to the M-framework by contact adhesive (PSA).1614, display unit is placed on the M-framework side opposite with battery.Should be noted that this moment display unit be not attached to the M-framework because display unit must on carry (tile up) so that can use the demonstration flexible circuit.To show that 1616 flexible circuit is placed under the battery and is electrically connected to the cell electrical connector subsequently.In case battery and display unit are electrically connected mutually, then use a plurality of available screws will comprise that the M-frame assembly of battery and display unit is fixed to shell 1618.Same because display unit directly is not attached to the M-framework,, can use by display unit the screw hole in the M-framework so being elevated.

Should be noted that in described embodiment, be used for a plurality of available screw utilization that the M-frame assembly is attached to shell directly is attached to the installation bracket of shell.These installation brackets are included as a plurality of Z altitude datum projectioies that the M-frame assembly provides the Z reference.In addition, use the remaining available screw of a part that M-frame assembly and PCB are attached to shell.In case the M-frame fixation is arrived shell, then aims at display unit in 1620 a plurality of alignment pins of using mutual diagonal angle to be placed on each side of display unit.Alignment pins can be used for mating the mating holes of installation bracket.1622, touch panel is connected electrically to battery, and, glass unit is inserted the window opening and is fixed to the M-framework 1626 1624.

Although described the present invention, there are the change, displacement and the equivalence that drop in the scope of the invention according to some preferred embodiments.Shall also be noted that and exist many substitute modes to realize method and apparatus of the present invention.For example, although die casting technology is to make the preferred approach of seamless engine housing, should be noted that this is not restriction and can uses other manufacture method.Therefore, be intended to appended claims is interpreted as comprising all such changes, displacement and the equivalence that drops in true spirit of the present invention and the scope.

Claims

1. hand-hold electronic equipments comprises:

Single seamless shell with open front, described single seamless shell has complete diapire and sidewall, diapire and sidewall cooperation are also worked in coordination with open front formation cavity, diapire has crooked basal surface, sidewall is rounded to form undercutting in crooked side surface and the cavity, and the edge of sidewall centers on and the qualification open front; And

Be arranged in the open front and be attached to the lid of the described seamless shell of no frame, lid has planar top surface and is disposed in interior open front place of cavity, lid is the open front between the filled sidewall basically, planar top surface basically with the upper surface flush of sidewall edge.

2. electronic equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein shell is formed by the stainless steel of polishing, and shell is a metal and lid is a glass.

3. as the described electronic equipment of claim 1-2, also comprise:

Be arranged in the interior display unit of cavity of shell; And

Can see through the display screen of the display unit that cover glass sees.

4. electronic equipment as claimed in claim 3, wherein the touch-sensing layer of substantial transparent is disposed between the display screen of lid glass and display unit.

5. electronic equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein lid comprises the opening that is used for input mechanism.

6. electronic equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein lid is attached to framework, and wherein said framework is installed to shell in the cavity of shell.

7. seamless shell that is formed by single metal plate comprises:

Top opening;

Cooperation and collaborative top opening form the complete diapire and the sidewall of cavity, and wherein diapire has crooked basal surface, and sidewall is rounded to form undercutting and outward flange in crooked side surface and the cavity, and the inward flange of sidewall centers on and the qualification top opening;

Be attached to the installation bracket that is suitable for electronic package is fixed to the diapire of shell of diapire;

Opening at least one sidewall, the side cut degree of depth of described opening are at least greater than the side cut degree of depth that is provided separately by shell; And

Runway, wherein runway is the top flat of shell between inward flange and outward flange, wherein by determine a plurality of reference point on the formation edge of seamless shell with optical mode, and use described a plurality of optical reference point cutting inward flange to make runway placed in the middle, perhaps wherein pass through to determine the central point and the angle of inclination of top opening, and make runway placed in the middle based on determined central point and angle of inclination cutting inward flange.

8. seamless shell as claimed in claim 7, wherein installation bracket comprises at least one installation bracket benchmark projection, this installation bracket benchmark projection is set to reduce the Z height tolerance between electronic package that is fixed and runway.

9. seamless shell as claimed in claim 8 wherein reduces the electronic package that is being fixed and the Z height tolerance between the runway by using single machines configurations to form described at least one installation bracket benchmark projection and described runway in single machining operations.

10. seamless shell as claimed in claim 9 also comprises:

Before the opening in the machining sidewall, second flat board that is attached to the interior section of at least one sidewall is attached to the position of opening, wherein second flat board increases the side cut degree of depth of the opening of machining, make it that side cut degree of depth that provides separately by shell is provided, if wherein opening has long thin web joint part, then strengthen the thin web joint part of described length by adding rigid member carriage 14, wherein form opening in the sidewall by metal forming, wherein metal forming increases the side cut degree of depth of opening, makes it that side cut degree of depth that is provided separately by shell is provided.

11. seamless shell as claimed in claim 9, described installation bracket comprises:

A plurality of sacrifices Z with the sacrificial section that is provided with along the length direction of installation bracket adjust protruding, wherein after installation bracket is attached to seamless casing, machining is removed the head portion of seamless casing and is sacrificed the sacrificial section that Z adjusts projection, get out a plurality of XY mating holes simultaneously, wherein machining and boring are carried out in single machines configurations.

12. seamless shell as claimed in claim 9 wherein makes runway placed in the middle through the following steps:

On the formation edge of seamless casing, determine a plurality of reference point with optical mode, and

Use described a plurality of optical reference point cutting inward flange, perhaps

Determine the central point of display part;

Determine the angle of inclination of display part; And

Based on central point and angle of inclination cutting inward flange.

13. a small form factor electronic equipment comprises:

Seamless shell with complete diapire and sidewall, diapire and sidewall cooperate and collaborative open front with planar top surface forms cavity, diapire has crooked basal surface, and sidewall is rounded to form undercutting in crooked side surface and the cavity, and the edge of sidewall centers on and the qualification open front; And

Insert seamless shell and be fixed to a plurality of electronic packages of the basal surface of shell by open front, the Z height tolerance that wherein minimizes described a plurality of electronic packages make the top electronic package upper surface basically with the planar top surface coplane of shell, wherein said a plurality of electronic package comprises first electronic package, and described first electronic package comprises:

The first electronics sub-component,

The second electronics sub-component, and

The flexible circuit that is the plane substantially that functionally and physically connects the first electronics sub-component and the second electronics sub-component, described flexible circuit comprises otch, described otch allows the flexible circuit distortion so that this flexible circuit can be consistent with curved shape on a plurality of dimensions, and second electronic package comprises:

Metal framework, wherein metal framework comprises a plurality of semi-shear that reduce the Z height tolerance;

Be attached to the power supply of metal framework bottom side, wherein power supply comprises at least one power circuit; And

Be attached to the display unit of metal top side, wherein said display unit comprises at least one display unit circuit, and wherein power circuit and display unit circuit are set to coexist as on the same Y dimension.

14. small form factor electronic equipment as claimed in claim 13, wherein flexible circuit comprises a pair of butterfly sheet part of S shape part and the end that is arranged in S shape part.

15. small form factor electronic equipment as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first electronics sub-component comprises minimum Z height integrated speaker assembly, wherein the sound that produces of integrated speaker assembly spreads out of by the selected opening in the side wall of outer shell, and wherein minimum Z height integrated speaker assembly comprises and is set to produce the piezoelectric speaker of sub-audible sound at least, have the acoustic seal of collaborative piezoelectric speaker work with a plurality of acoustic seals gap that will be directed to selected opening by the sound that piezoelectric speaker produces, be set to prevent that sound is leaked to the sound panel of non-selected opening, and voicefrequency circuit and the circular basically audio jack that is associated.

16. small form factor electronic equipment as claimed in claim 13, wherein the 3rd assembly is the tip assembly as glass unit, comprising:

Have the plastic frame of contact adhesive (PSA) layer, wherein plastic frame comprises that a plurality of securing members and the 3rd assembly comprise a plurality of glass unit inleads, and described a plurality of glass unit inleads cooperate with securing member glass unit is fixed to the 3rd assembly;

Formation has the environmental sealing of the dijection molded structure of plastic frame, and described environmental sealing has wedge-like portion, and wherein at least a portion of the wedge-like portion of environmental sealing extends beyond the inward flange of open front; And

The glassy layer of polishing, described glassy layer is fixed to plastic frame by PSA.

17. small form factor electronic equipment as claimed in claim 16, wherein glass unit is being inserted in the process of open front, the wedge-like portion of glass unit by environmental sealing itself cooperates with inward flange so that glass unit itself between two parties, while plastic frame securing member cooperates with the 3rd assembly inlead and occupy the open front center.

18. small form factor electronic equipment as claimed in claim 17 also comprises:

Be set to discharge because of glassy layer being pressed into PSA goes up any gas that traps between glassy layer and plastic frame captured gas releasing structure.

19. small form factor electronic equipment as claimed in claim 15, wherein shell comprises asymmetric audio jack opening, this asymmetric audio jack opening be set to conformally to defer to simultaneously the shell that forms this audio jack opening therein sidewall steep SPL and should the circle audio jack, cut edge and can not influence audio jack basically.

20. small form factor electronic equipment as claimed in claim 2, wherein second sub-component comprises the RF antenna, wherein the bent angle near the RF antenna partly is removed so that fully eliminate the EMI that is caused by shell and use the antenna cap that is formed by non-RF interfering material to replace in the shell, and described second sub-component also comprises:

Be set to strengthen the bent angle partially rigid member partly of the bent angle with antenna cap of shell, wherein rigid member is as the ground level of RF antenna, and wherein rigid member comprises and is set to contact that the RF antenna is connected with the ground level electronics that is formed by rigid member.

21. one kind is suitable for the integrated speaker assembly that uses, comprises in the small form factor portable, hand-held device:

Be set to produce at least the piezoelectric speaker of sub-audible sound;

Acoustic seal with a plurality of acoustic seals gap that will be directed to the desired locations in the small form factor portable, hand-held device by the sound that piezoelectric speaker produces; And

Be set to prevent that sub-audible sound from leaking to the sound panel of the non-desired locations in the small form factor electronic equipment.